This map will keep you occupied for longer
than you first might think, although the
size is pretty average for a single bsp.
The answer lies in the weak weapons you
are provided with in the first part of the
map, and the enemy count to go with that.
But more about that later, here's the story:
Tired of training instead of gibbing some
real Strogg opposition, you walk into the
office of your commander to ask him if you
could join in on the next attack on the
Strogg. He is however not willing to let
you go, and the two of you begin to argue.
In the heat of the discussion, you pull
your gun and point it towards him, just
as a soldier enters the office. Before you
have time to react, shots are fired, and
as the echoes of your gunfight fades away,
they are both dead; now you're a fugitive
on the run. You manage to steal a pod scheduled
for the Strogg leaders planet. Regretfully
you didn't bring any heavy weaponry.
The layout of this map is actually pretty
good, but the design lacks professionalism.
Some areas look good, some don't. Here's
an example: when using a lift you don't
normally expect it to go right through the
buttons that operate it. And, that particular
lift didn't seem to fit in with the environment;
it should have been replaced with some stairs.
The textures aren't used to their advantage,
with the exception of a couple of areas
that look good. In the beginning rooms are
very small, but the deeper into the mission
you get, the larger the rooms get. There's
a couple of outdoor areas that are OK, and
the 3D feel to this bsp is better than a
couple of recently reviewed maps here at
QIC. The lighting however is a bit, how
shall I put it, original. Take the lower
screenshot as an example; is there anyone
who believes green light outdoors look natural?
I know I don't.
When it comes to Strogg resistance I have
to say that the first half of the map isn't
very fun, mainly because you're only equipped
with the single shotgun and a couple of
hand grenades. There's a pretty massive
opposition you're up against, and although
it's possible to kill all the enemies with
the weapons provided, it gets very tedious,
yes even annoying. But once you get a hold
of the super shotgun the game picks up again.
But then the next annoying thing happens;
areas that you recently cleared are filled
with monsters again, sometimes right behind
your back, coming out of nowhere. It would
have been OK if it happened in another room
and you were to backtrack, but when it happens
in the very room you're standing in, it
gets unreal. You really have no indication
on where they're going to respawn. On the
upside is the smoothness, very little slowdown
and the escalation towards the end is well
performed.
Some of what this map lacks can be explained
with the authors non-willingness to learn
how to edit with Worldcraft. Therefore no
special effects are used, but the map clearly
has potential, especially if more time is
spent on creating a more realistic environment.
One or two moving things would have added
to that as well; for instance why not make
the crane in the lower screenshot actually
work. Well, that's about it, I think I've
laid everything I can remember about the
map out for you; now it's up to you to decide
whether to download or not. I'm out of here.
Score: 3/5 |